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Champions League Final: Man-U V Barca

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:39:52 +0000

Barcelona FC clashing against Manchester United in the final of the UEFA Champions League was something that everyone was dreaming about.

Manchester United advanced to the 2009 UEFA Champions League final in Rome after convincingly beating Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate. The Red Devils had to wait 24 hours after triumphing at the Emirates to know who will be their opponents come May 27 at the Stadio Olimpico.

And with all the controversy one could ever think of, it was revealed to be Pep Guardiola’s Catalan Giants FC Barcelona, after the Blaugrana controversially ousted Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona and Manchester United are two clubs from two different countries with a completely different culture all together. However, history shows that as much as they have dissimilarities, they also have similarities, which give this UEFA Champions League final a real flavor of glamor and style.

This will be a battle between the young and the old, the inexperienced one and the wise one, the great warrior and the new combatant.

Barcelona’s 38-year-old coach Pep Guardiola is the new ‘kid’ on the block. The former Barcelona captain jumped a big step from being the manager of the club’s reserve team to coaching the senior side at a time when the Catalans were desperately searching for some fire in the pot.

On the other hand, Man-U’s Sir Alex Ferguson, 67, is Europe’s most experienced manager after winning everything there is to win with Manchester United. Last year, the Red Devils beat Barcelona, managed by Frank Rikjaard at the time, as they marched into the final where they ultimately beat Chelsea to clinch the trophy in style.

Ferguson has been with the Red Devils for more than 20 years now, but his desire to achieve success and break records has pushed him all the way to yet an impressive campaign this season as well.

This Manchester United - FC Barcelona fixture for the Champions League title is definitely a clash that will determine who the best player is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This hot debate has long been running but it might come to an end on May 27, when Europe’s two best clubs meet each other in Rome.

Lionel Messi has shown his best form for...

Man-U to win all Five Titles in Soccer?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:09:30 +0000

Why are we asking?

Well, since the Manchester United Red Devils just won the Carling Cup, defeating Tottenham in a 4-1 penalty shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time, we are.

You see, United is trying to win five trophies this season, something that has never been done. They won the Club World Cup title back in December and now with the Carling Cup title, they are nearly halfway to the goal. They have a comfortable lead in the 2009 English Premier League and Man-U winning the Premiership again is very possible indeed.

Aside from playing strong in the Premiership, the Red Devils are also in good shape in the 2009 UEFA Champions League, not to mention the fact that they are into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

‘’We’re not going to get carried away with it,'’ Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. ‘’We’ll keep our feet on the ground. A deflected shot goes off someone’s backside at Fulham on Wednesday and you’re out of the cup. Today proved that. Without Ben Foster, we’d have lost that.'’

United goalkeeper Ben Foster was brilliant for United in the victory, making big stops on Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent during the match. United also had chances to win before the shootout as Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez hit the post in injury time.

United is so deep that Ferguson chose to rest starting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in this match even though van der Sar has not given up a goal in the Premier League since November.

‘’Tottenham are good opponents and they probably had better chances in the match,'’ Ferguson said. ‘’But Ben Foster made two or three good saves.'’

The future definitely looks good for...

David Beckham debuts for AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:39:17 +0000

This ''David Beckham debut'' sure was better than the last one.

After making his highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy nearly two years ago, David Beckham was in the middle of yet another debut for an international football team and this time, he was with AC Milan, surprising football fans on how his ‘’new debut'’ turned out this time around.

You see, the last time David Beckham made his debut for a football team, it was with the Los Angeles Galaxy, fresh from his transfer from Real Madrid to the MLS. That one was more of a cameo appearance than a full-time playing appearance really, as Becks only played for 21 minutes as the L.A. Galaxy lost to D.C. United, 1-nil.

This time though, David Beckham was on the pitch for 89 minutes with AC Milan. He was solid too as he came up with probably one of the best performances he’s ever had since leaving Real Madrid for California.

AC Milan ended up with a 2-2 draw against AS Roma.

Beckham sure was fantastic. Although it does not compare with the performances he once had early in his career with Manchester United and Real Madrid, he was solid nevertheless. Hell, the guy was so good that he elicited boos from the AS Roma crowd as he exited the pitch in the 89th minute.

‘’I felt good in the game, very strong and I enjoyed it,'’ Beckham said. ‘’I enjoyed playing with these players and in this city.'’

AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti initially said it would be difficult to start the former Man-U and Real Madrid star since the guy was inactive for the last two months. STILL, he had him lining up in his traditional spot on the right wing, leaving Mathieu Flamini and Massimo Ambrosini on the bench to...

Cristiano Ronaldo returns

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:19:37 +0000

Yes, the biggest superstar in football today will finally be back.

And in case you haven’t heard, the 2008 UEFA Champions League is already underway and we already have quite a few teams looking quite strong already for this year’s campaign.

One of which is of course, Manchester United. After missing the services of Cristiano Ronaldo because of injuries to start the football year, the most expensive footballer today could be back for Man-U once they take on Villarreal in a UEFA Champions League Group E fixture on Wednesday.

Ronaldo has been making quite a few headlines the last few months with the rumored move from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Now that he’s officially a Red Devil again, he’s hoping Man-U fans will forgive him for his transgression.

For what it’s worth, Ronaldo remains confident Man-U fans will forgive him, (depends on how he helps the team in the 2008 English Premier League season of course…) although Real Madrid will definitely not, that’s for sure.

‘’When I put on the shirt, I give it my all,'’ Cristiano Ronaldo said. ‘’I'm already in the history of the club. When I play the fans will love me again.'’

Cocky ain’t he? And he uttered those words despite the rumors that aside from the possible move to Real Madrid, he’s also rumored to move to Manchester City after that club claimed they would pay Ronaldo a whopping US$270 million.

Of course, Ronaldo denied there is any chance of...

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:33:15 +0000

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of becoming the world’s most expensive player if he decides to take on Real Madrid’s generous offer.

Now that Cristiano Ronaldo’s stint in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship is over after Portugal lost to Germany, he is now looking into a possible move from Old Trafford and the defending Champions League champions Manchester United, to Real Madrid and the Spanish Premiere League.

After failing to lead Portugal deeper into the Euro 2008 tournament, it seems that didn’t hurt his market value so to speak. Real Madrid still wants to land the fiery Portugese striker and after he captured both the English Premiership and the UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid is STILL willing to make him the highest paid football player in the world.

Zinedine Zidane, still the highest paid footballer after moving from Juventus to Real Madrid, agrees with his former club. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is worthy to break his own record breaking fee and the Portugese’s 3-2 loss to Germany should not slow down his bandwagon.

‘’He has had a great season, a league and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn’t mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team,'’ retired Zinedine Zidane said.

‘’It doesn’t say anything about the merits during the year. He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them. Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to...''

Manchester United, 2008 Champions League Champions!

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:33:49 +0000

The Champions League final became one of the most dramatic finishes ever seen on a pitch to decide a championship.

Yes, the conclusion of the 2008 UEFA Champions League final between the Manchester United Red Devils and Chelsea FC is probably one of the most exciting finishes ever seen on the pitch and unfortunately for football fans, only one team can win.

One team did win and this year, Manchester United became champions of all of Europe. The Red Devils, after scoring the first goal of the match, won the Champions League final, winning on penalties 6-5 to beat Chelsea FC after ending regulation and TWO extra periods in a 1-1 deadlock.

It was a very draining game for Chelsea both physically and emotionally too. After Man-U star Cristiano Ronaldo missed his kick on the penalty shootout to decide the Champions League final, Chelsea all of a sudden had the chance to steal the European title away from their rivals from Old Trafford.

Unfortunately for the Blues, their captain John Terry missed his as well, relinquishing the advantage back to the Red Devils. And after Man-U goalie Edwin Van der Sar stopped Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka, the celebration for the Red Devils began.

Ironically, it has been 40 years since Manchester United won the Champions League in Germany with a team rebuilt by Sir Matt Busby from the survivors of that Munich disaster. Eight players lost their lives following the catastrophic events on a snow-filled German runway in February 1958.

40 years later, Man-U was celebrating in Germany again, winning the 2008 UEFA Champions League final and when it was all said and done, football fans realized something they never thought they’d never see again. Manchester United won a magnificent double to conclude this year’s football season.

Things may have been different if...

Manchester United captures 2008 English Premiership

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:47:13 +0000

Manchester United, champions of English football!

The 2007-08 English Premier League season finally concluded with the usual suspects, Man-U, winning the coveted English football title after beating Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season.

This is now the 10th Premier League championship the Manchester United Red Devils have won in the last 16 years. Talk about domination huh? After taking it away from Chelsea last season, Man-U made sure that their title win last year was no fluke after successfully defending their crown despite the slow start to the season.

Speaking of Chelsea FC, they had the opportunity to make this year’s Premiership title chase interesting. They were up against Bolton on the final day of the season, holding a 1-0 lead. They could’ve had a 2-0 win over Bolton and steal the title away from their rivals from Man-U by taking over the points lead in the standings, instead, they gave up a goal merely a few minutes before the match ended, ending up with a 1-1 draw to the Bolton Wanderers and two points behind Man-U after the anticlimactic finish.

In the end, Manchester United finished with 87 championship points to win this year’s Premiership while Chelsea FC wound up with 85. This was the closest finish for the Premiership since Man-U edged Arsenal by a single point back in 1999.

Now, Manchester United, with 10 Premiership titles, will continue to chase the all-time record set by Liverpool of 18 league titles. Sure, these guys still have a long way to go before they get there but with young guns Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney on their side, eight more Premierships are not that too difficult to...

Manchester United: Is a Repeat Possible?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:36:45 +0000

After winning last season’s English Premier League Title, Manchester United are dead set on defending their crown, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson confesses that the Red Devils are gunning and ready. They’ve acquired 4 promising signings over the European summer. There’s midfielder Owen Hargreaves coming over from Bayern Munich. There’s Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez who [...]

Manchester United V Reading on Sunday

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:55:43 +0000

The 2007 English Premiere League season has officially begun. Manchester United will face Reading on Sunday in a fixture that could very well be the Red Devils’ first match they need to win in their defense of the English Premiership title. The Red Devils are talking and they should, after beating Chelsea FC 3-0 in [...]

Chelsea will play second fiddle to David Beckham

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:00:43 +0000

Chelsea, one of the most popular teams in all of soccer, agrees to play second fiddle to David Beckham. Chelsea FC, the same team that became the 2007 FA Cup champions, and the same team that ruled the English Premiership for two years before Manchester United won this year’s Premiership title, agreed to let David [...]